# Gouty Stem Gall Wasp (*Callirhytis quercussuttoni*) The Gouty Stem Gall Wasp is a tiny insect that makes galls on oak trees. These galls are like little bumps that help protect the wasp's babies as they grow inside. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Gouty Stem Gall Wasp](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Callirhytis_quercussuttoni.jpg&width=800) Photo: David Soren Harelson, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Callirhytis_quercussuttoni.jpg) ## Appearance The Gouty Stem Gall Wasp is a tiny, dark-bodied insect, typically black or dark brown, with a somewhat rounded abdomen. Its body is smooth and shiny, often with clear, membranous wings that are longer than its body. It is distinctly small, making it difficult to spot without close inspection, and lacks the bright colors seen in some other wasp species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Cynipidae - **Genus:** Callirhytis ## Interesting facts - Even after the wasp leaves, the empty galls can stay on the branches for years! - Its strange galls are like custom-built nurseries for baby wasps, grown by the tree! - The hard, woody galls are made by the tree, offering amazing protection from predators. - The wasp uses special chemicals to make the oak tree grow a lumpy, woody fortress. ## Special abilities - **Gall Architect:** Gouty Stem Gall Wasps can induce oak trees to grow unique, woody galls that shelter their developing young, protecting them from danger. - **Chemical Command:** Gouty Stem Gall Wasps inject plant hormones that force the oak to create a specific nursery-like structure for their larvae. - **Woody Fortress Creator:** Gouty Stem Gall Wasps have the ability to make a hard, lumpy gall on oak stems that acts as a strong, secure home. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 4-7 mm - **Size:** 2-4 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult wasps feed little, but their larvae munch on nutrient-rich oak tissue from within their protective galls. - **Age differences:** Larvae feed on plant tissue inside the gall; adults may not feed or sip nectar/honeydew. - **Primary Foods:** Oak stem tissue, Plant sap - **Foraging Method:** Null ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Wasp larvae feed on and develop within the oak's stem galls. - **Eaten by:** Parasitoid Wasp (*Torymus advenus*) — Its larvae parasitize and consume the Gouty Stem Gall Wasp larvae. - **Eats:** [Carolina Chickadee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carolina-chickadee) (*Poecile carolinensis*) — Birds sometimes peck open galls to eat the larvae inside. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Symbiotic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/symbiotic): Describes a relationship between two different species where they live in close association, often benefiting one or both. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's best to look at galls from a distance and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Gouty Stem Gall Wasp? Compare the antennae, wings, waist, body hair and legs. Yellow and black stripes show up on bees, wasps and harmless mimics alike. Bee & Wasp Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Gouty Stem Gall Wasp's wingspan? 4-7 mm ### How big is Gouty Stem Gall Wasp? 2-4 mm ### How long does Gouty Stem Gall Wasp live? 7-14 days ### What does Gouty Stem Gall Wasp eat? Adult wasps feed little, but their larvae munch on nutrient-rich oak tissue from within their protective galls. ### Where is Gouty Stem Gall Wasp usually found? Forests ### How does Gouty Stem Gall Wasp hunt? Null ### How many legs does Gouty Stem Gall Wasp have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Pasadena Civic Center District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pasadena-civic-center-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Hellyer County Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hellyer-county-park) — California, US · Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Gouty Stem Gall Wasp: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gouty-stem-gall-wasp)